Hence it appears that, by Christian perfection, we mean nothing but the cluster and maturity of the graces which compose the Christian character in the church militant. 34;perfect love," instead of the word "perfection;" and understanding by it the pure love of God, shed abroad in the heart of established believers by the Holy Ghost, which is abundantly given them under the fullness of the Christian dispensation. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors." James 2:8,9.
34;For the end of the commandment is charity; out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." 1 Tim. 34;Has there not been a larger measure of the Holy Spirit given before Christ was glorified. Therefore repent and be baptized" (that is, make an open profession of your faith) "in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the remission of sins: and ye shall receive the gift of.
34;His arm is not shortened that it cannot save;" nor is His promise of the Spirit stinted. He says in general, "Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely. According to the evangelical balance of the doctrines of free grace and free will, I answer, that the way to perfection is by the due combination of prevenient, assisting free grace; and of submissive, assisted free will.
First, it passively receives divine grace, saying, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord: let it be done to me. From the preceding observations it appears that believers generally go to Christian perfection, as the disciples went to the other side of the sea of Galilee. Take therefore the sword of the Spirit, and boldly cut this dangerous snare in pieces.
However, as the way of the cross leads to heaven, it undoubtedly leads to Christian perfection. This direction about faith being of the utmost importance, I shall confirm and explain it by an extract from Mr. It implies both a supernatural evidence of God and of the things of God, a kind of spiritual light exhibited to the soul, and a supernatural sight or perfection thereof: accordingly.
Social prayer is closely connected with faith in the capital promise of the sanctifying Spirit;. The Jews still expect the coming of the Messiah in the flesh; and they particularly expect it in a storm. O for the importunate faith of the two disciples who detained Christ when "he made as though he would have gone farther.
Expect to receive the one thing now needful for you, a fullness of the sanctifying Spirit.
AN ADDRESS TO PERFECT CHRISTIANS
The doctrine of the absolute perseverance of the saints is the first card which the devil played against man: "Ye shall not surely die, if ye break the law of perfection." This fatal card won the game. See him transforming himself into an angel of light on the pinnacle of the temple. Out of the Bible he pulls the very card which won our first parents, and swept the stake, paradise; yea, swept it with the bosom of destruction.
He hangs abandoned by His friends, surrounded by His foes, condemned by the rich, insulted by the poor: He hangs, "a worm, and no man," a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people. If you look for anything but more love, you are looking wide of the mark, you are getting out of the royal way. And when you are asking others, `Have you received this or that blessing?' if you mean anything but more love, you mean wrong; you are leading them out of the way, and putting them upon a false scent.
Settle it then in you heart, that, from the moment God has saved you from all sin, you are to aim at anything but more of that love described in the thirteenth of the Corinthians. Paul was perfect in the love which casts out fear, and therefore he boldly reproved the high priest; but, when he had reproved him more sharply than the fifth commandment allows, he directly confessed his mistake, and set his seal to the importance of the duty in which he had been inadvertently wanting. 34;Then Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." St.
But, if ye despise the weak, and are above lending them a helping hand, ye are fallen from Christian perfection, which teaches us to bear one another's burdens, especially the burdens of the weak. Imitate, then, the tenderness and wisdom of the good Shepherd, who carries the lambs in His bosom, gently leads the sheep which are big with young, feeds with milk those who cannot bear strong meat, and says to his imperfect disciples, "I have many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now.". 34;Where the" loving "Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Keep, therefore, at the utmost distance from the shackles of a narrow, prejudiced, bigoted spirit.
Your feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: run after them both in the race of obedience, for the crown of martyrdom, if that crown is reserved for you. Paul write, "The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk after the Spirit?" Did he not with the same simplicity declare, that, although he had nothing, and was sorrowful, yet he possessed all things, and was always rejoicing. Peter charge believers to give with fear an account of the grace which is in them and how careful should ye be to observe his important charge.
Charles Wesley, which is descriptive of the destruction of corrupt self-will, and expressive of the absolute resignation which characterizes a perfect believer:-. But, when the triumphal chariot of perfect love gloriously carries you to the top of perfection's hill; when you are raised far above the common heights of the perfect;.
